USDA Farm Service Agency has just made $2 billion available to help specialty crop producers (fruit, vegetable, tree nuts, nursery crops, Christmas trees, floriculture, culinary and medicinal herbs and spices, honey, hops, maple sap, turfgrass and grass seed) expand markets and manage higher costs. Applications are only accepted from December 10, 2024, to January 8, 2025. Many NYS farms would seem to be eligible for these funds. This is not a grant; payments are based entirely on your sales history.
Category: Funding Resources
Grants, loans, tax-credits and other resources to help improve the profitability and sustainability of farm businesses.
State Agriculture Department Announces $4.25 Million Available to Support Beginning and Disadvantaged Farmers
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that applications will open this fall for two competitive State grant programs: the Beginning Farmer Grant Program and the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmer Grant Program. The programs, which offer support to New York farmers who are new to the field or who face disproportionate social and economic barriers to success, will provide funding for a wide range of start-up and operational costs and offer support for marketing, training, and more.
Upcoming Events to Claim COVID-19 Relief Payments for Farmworkers
Upcoming Events to Claim COVID-19 Relief Payments for Farmworkers Beginning March 1, 2023, frontline farm workers who incurred expenses preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a one-time $600 relief payment through this website, which is administered by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. This program is likely to end this Read More…
GAP Certification Assistance Program
The GAP certification assistance program is a cost-share/reimbursement program designed to assist the specialty crop industry with the cost of an operation’s GAP food safety audit.
Strategies for a Successful NYS Grown and Certified Grant Application
While in Western NY in late June I met with Aileen Randolph of NY Farm Viability, and she provided some tips for growers who are interested in the upcoming NYS Grown and Certified Grant Program.
Governor Hochul Announces New Refundable Farm Employer Overtime Tax Credit Application Period Now Open
Farm employers who have registered in the new online portal at taxcredit.agriculture.ny.gov may enter eligible employee overtime information and submit their application to the Department of Ag and Markets for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime.
SARE Farmer Grant
SARE Farmer Grant Call for Proposals Open Proposals due Nov 12 at 5 p.m. EST. Projects will start after March 1, 2025.
Coming in 2025 – Equipment Only Grants (NYS Ag and Markets)
According to the NYS Ag and Markets website, NYS Ag and Markets Farm and Food Growth Fund applications for Equipment Only Grants will be launched in 2025.
FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Program – NYS Ag and Markets
If you are a CSA farm that already accepts SNAP (food stamps) as a source of payment for weekly CSA shares, this grant should be of interest to you. If you do not currently participate in this program, you will need to partner with a non-profit or local government to be the applicant.
Certifying as a Minority/Woman-Owned Business in NYS
If you are a minority/women-owned business in NYS you should consider going through the process to be certified.
USDA Announces Farms Selected for Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program
On June 14, USDA announced the names of the 141 applications that received funding from the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP). Three farms in New York received funding under this program to support housing improvement and expansion, worker training and improved worker pay and benefits.
NYS Department of Labor Workforce Development Training Program, Employee Retention and Advancement Training
The purpose of Employee Retention and Advancement Training is to provide occupational skills training, commensurate with regional priorities, to year-round, full time, incumbent workers who are currently in low and middle-skills occupations, leading to job advancement and retention.